John Butler

John Roy Butler, (Big John) died at the age of 80 from complications of cancer in Springfield, Missouri on August 7, 2020.

John was born near Atlantic, Iowa on May 4, 1940 to Dale and Irene (Herbert) Butler. He graduated from the Atlantic High school in 1958. He joined the National Guard and worked at Camblins Plumbing and Heating in Atlantic. On February 26, 1961 he married Leola (Karas). They moved to Cumberland, Iowa and started Butler Plumbing. In 1967 they moved to Treynor and he filled a maintenance position at Lewis Central Schools in Council Bluffs for a few years. He then took over the maintenance position for the City of Treynor which included chief of police, street, water and waste water superintendent. After retiring from the City, he went to work at the Bluffs Run Casino on maintenance and later as locksmith at Horseshoe Casino. John retired from Horseshoe Casino in 2012. He was on the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Departments in both Cumberland and Treynor for a total of 43 years as well as an Honorary member of the Lewis Township Fire and Water Rescue Team. He also taught southwest Iowa fire and rescue classes several years.

John is preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Irene (Herbert) Butler; a sister, Ruth Ann and her husband, Lloyd Dreager and a son in law, Daniel Knoble.

He is survived by his wife, Leola (Karas) Butler and three children, Jerry (JoAnna) Butler of Crystal Lakes, MO, Barry (Patricia) Butler of Lincoln, NE and Lorry Knoble Elder of Council Bluffs, IA; 11 grandchildren, Brandon (Kealey) Butler, Carolyn (Dylon) Knudson, Bryan, Joseph, Anthony, Thomas and Karl Butler, Nicholas and Haley Butler, Elizabeth Knoble and Colton Elder; four great grandchildren, Lucy and Cecilia Butler, Kyler and Grayson Knudson; a brother, Ed (Dorothy) Butler; nieces and nephews.

Visitation with the family will be Friday, August 14, 2020 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home. The funeral will be Saturday, 10:00 AM also at the funeral home. Interment is in the Massena, Iowa Cemetery at 2:00 PM. Remembrances may be sent to the family.